Friday, February 12, 2010

In Praise of Succulents: Echeveria Edition 2; The Easygoing Ones

As I've said before, it took me a while before I learned to overwinter most Echeverias without having them look unhealthy and unhappy for the duration. In part 1 of this series, I mentioned that I have had better success by growing under fluorescent lights in my cool basement. Well, there are some exceptions to that, and I'd like to show off a few of them. These are the plants that grow more or less contentedly in my south-facing kitchen window during the winter, in normal house temperatures.

Echeveria purpusorum. When I first saw one of these, I thought it resembled a Haworthia.

Same plant, in a shot that shows the purple coloration better.

Side view

I think this Noid Echeveria resembles E. purpusorum somewhat, in the shape and thickness of the leaves, as well as the dark outlines on the sides and undersides. While E. purpusorum has never bloomed for me, this plant has bloomed three years in a row. I'd love to know its name.

The Noid Echeveria's yellow flowers

Echeveria pulidonis. It hasn't produced a stalk yet, but this Echeveria also has yellow flowers, but without even the hint of orange seen in the NoId. I have posted this plant before. The red edges do fade somewhat during winter, but the plant doesn't get leggy.

Echeveria ramillette, at least according to the label that came with it. I'll try to post another picture when the flowers open.

I haven't pictured it here, but I have an Echeveria agavoides variety which also does well in winter without fluorescent lights or cooler temperatures.

What it's all about

Although this blog is (mostly) about my houseplants and garden, it is also about my life. (You've been warned.) While I hope that at least some of what I write is of practical interest, the main focus of Life Among the Leaves is on the feelings inspired by growing and caring for plants.

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About Me

Karen715 is a New Yorker relocated to the Midwest. As such, she maintains that the proper name for sweetened carbonated beverages is Soda, not Pop. She lives among the leaves with her loving husband and a mischievous cat. On occasion, she has been referred to as a "Crazy Plant Lady," an epithet she embraces wholeheartedly.